“In some ways,” murmured Miss Smith softly. “But having stacks of money and never having to work again isn’t everything!”
And the dreamy look that came into her eyes irritated me worse than the loudly-expressed envy of the other girl. Miss Holt’s type of mind, that cares only for the things that she can see and handle and wear and eat and drink, is so much easier to tackle than an un-practical person’s point of view. I’m glad I’m rather like Miss Holt, myself. These sentimental people are too tiresome!
I simply couldn’t help one snap at Miss Smith as I turned to her.
“I suppose nothing’s ‘everything’ except wasting years waiting for Love in a flat? I suppose you despise any hard-up girl who’s sick of the struggle and who marries for comfort and a home?”
“I don’t despise anybody, Miss Trant, as it happens!” protested Smithie, facing me with the sudden defiance of a mild nature touched in its tenderest spot. “You didn’t ought to speak sarcastically to me, just because you can get married at once instead of waiting—years—till he can afford——”
“Well, and you needn’t despise me for that other reason, at all events,” I said, a little mollified by the tears that were now welling up in the dreamy eyes, “for, whatever else I may be going to do, Miss Smith, I am not going to marry Mr. Waters for his money!”
I didn’t add that I shouldn’t ever marry him at all, but that his money was quite good enough to get engaged to him on. However, had I openly announced this, I don’t think she could have looked more surprised.
“Not for his money—marry him for love, then? Him?” screamed little Miss Holt before she could stop herself. Then she clapped her hand over her wide-open mouth, another involuntary gesture, caused partly, I suppose, by the impulse to keep back anything further that might offend me, and partly by the appearance at the door of Mr. Dundonald.
It was to everybody’s amazement that this was not immediately followed by the inevitable “Talk-ing, ladies!” and the scowl.
But an extensive smile creased Mr. Dundonald’s shut fist of a face into unfamiliar lines of benevolence; he beamed upon us all as he announced in a voice as suavely unfamiliar as the smile, “Miss Trant! I am sorry to interrupt your conversation, but Mr. Waters would be much obliged if you would go back to his room again for a moment, as he wishes to say a few words to you!”